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Man Claims He Was Threatened By Warren Mayor Jim Fouts

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WARREN (WWJ/AP) – Warren Mayor Jim Fouts is the focus of a state police investigation.

Fouts is accused of making phone threats, although the nature of the threats is unclear.

State police Lt. Michael Shaw said their probe began last week, when they were approached by a man who was upset about a conversation with the mayor.

“He had made some allegations against the mayor that he was threatened by him,” Shaw told WWJ Newsradio 950. “We have not interviewed the mayor as of yet. The mayor’s office has been very cooperative with us.”

Shaw said the investigation is still in the early stages, but they’ve been talking with the complainant and some other people. They plan to interview the mayor later this week.

Shaw did not provide any details about the nature of the threat.

Fouts told The Associated Press Thursday a recording was made from a private conversation and called it a “breach of confidentiality.”

“I have not violated any laws,” he said. “Every human has their boiling point and many times I have my boiling point. I have a right to be able to have a confidential discussion with my political appointees.”

He hasn’t heard the recording and plans to voluntarily meet next week with police, Fouts added.

Fouts would not name the appointee, but said that person was hired several years ago.

It doesn’t appear the probe is linked to last year’s federal grand jury probe into Warren city government.

It’s expected that any findings will be sent to the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office next week.

Warren is Michigan’s third-largest city and is just north of Detroit. Voters there elected Fouts, a former Warren councilman and retired teacher, in 2011 to his second four-year term as mayor.